SL's Game Day Preview: Missouri Edition

As you make your way to Columbia, or if you’re just relaxing on your couch, remember your manners, always say Go Dawgs, and always read SL’s gameday preview. Today, Georgia takes on the Missouri Tigers for game four of the 2018 season! Below you can find out where to watch the game, what to expect, and a score prediction from Bulldawg Illustrated’s very own Savannah Leigh. Enjoy!

Radio:

WSB 95.5 FM/750AM

Sirius/XM Radio: 98/190

Local Missouri Channel: 87.9

3 Things to Expect from the Game

1: Georgia Should Causes Havoc and a Whole lot of Turnovers

The Bulldogs are +3 on turnovers right now and with a team like Missouri, Georgia’s hungry to get more. Drew Lock averages 37.6 passes a game so the Bulldogs will have plenty of opportunities to make a play and pick him off a few times. The last time Georgia came to Columbia, Lock finish 23-38 for 376 yards, 3 TD and 3 INT. Georgia’s secondary is a lot more talented than it was in 2016 and those three interceptions could very well happen. However, I don’t know that Lock will have that many passing yards today. It’ll be more around the 250 yards 2 TD and 3 INT.
Georgia’s defense got some heat this week for not having more sacks against its first three opponents. However, with the type of teams it played, Georgia wasn’t necessarily trying to sack the quarterback. The defensive front did get a lot of push on opposing offensive lines and made those quarterbacks uncomfortable. Georgia ran basic defensive packages and have held teams to 8 points a game, which leads the SEC in scoring defense. The defense didn’t need to blitz to stop opponents and get the offense back on the field. Georgia holds teams to 101 yards on the ground and 157.67 in the air without doing anything fancy. However I will say, this game is an excellent opportunity for Georgia to get some pressure on a true pocket quarterback. If Lock stays in the pocket long enough, the Georgia defense will get to him.

2: Bulldogs Offense Explodes Even More

The Bulldogs already average 45 points a game after the first three games. Georgia could score a lot of points against the Tigers. Missouri gave up 37 points and 572 passing yards to Purdue. The Boilermakers exposed Missouri’s secondary last weekend and Georgia needs to take advantage of that. Missouri gave up 614 total yards to Purdue, and if it wants to defeat Georgia, it cannot let that happen. The only reason Missouri beat Purdue was the time of possession and the lack of a run game by the Boilermakers. However, that’s not the case with Georgia. It has a four-headed monster at running back that can make plays. Elijah Holyfield continues to warm up each week and improve, and D’Andre Swift will be ready to go and hungry to make a play. Not to mention, James Cook and Brian Herrien who both contributed in all three games.
Despite Georgia being a run dominant team, the Bulldogs can throw the ball. Jake Fromm leads the nation in completion percentage with 80 percent. Fromm is 37-46 for 479 yards, six TDs, and one INT. He posses a 206.60 quarterback rating. Oh, and the true-freshman Justin Fields has completed 81 percent of his passes. Fields is 14-18 on the year. Last week Georgia had four different receivers to catch a touchdown pass. That very well could happen again today. Georgia can expose the Tigers secondary which will spread out the defense allowing the Bulldogs to do what they do best. Georgia could put up another 200-yard rushing game and match it with a 200-yard passing game.

3: Missouri May Have A Few Tricks Up Its Sleeves

The Tigers have a new offensive coordinator as Derek Dooley accepted the job earlier this year. Missouri’s offense isn’t like it usually is as it worked on establishing a run game and utilizing its big receivers and tight ends to cause mismatches. However, after watching film on Georgia this week, Dooly could cook up something to get rid of the ball quickly, so Georgia’s defense is on its toes. By doing that, Georgia cannot blitz or put a lot of pressure on Lock because guys need to help out in coverage and getting to him. The Bulldogs can manage that, but it would give Missouri a new look and allow them to stay in the game for a little while at least.

SL’s Score Prediction

I’ve thought about this prediction a lot this week. How many points do I give Missouri? The Tigers will hang around for the first half of the ball game, but the Bulldogs make them quit in the third quarter. This game will be the defense first real challenge of the season with Missouri’s high powered offense. We all know Drew Lock is talented and has guys to throw to, however, it’ll be hard with Georiga’s defensive front pressuring him. The Bulldogs defensive line finally gets in the backfield and gets a sack or two. However, it’ll be the secondary that shows up and proves it has the talent and capability to be an elite secondary. I predict at least two interceptions for Lock as Georgia makes Missouri bow down to them. Two guys that need to have a good game are Richard LeCounte and Tyson Campbell. LeCounte gets his second INT of the year, and Campbell continues to put it together and maybe even gets his first big stop of the season. Georgia rolls Missouri 45-17 and goes 2-0 in SEC play and 4-0 on the season.

Savannah Leigh is a recent graduate of the Grady College of Journalism at the University of Georgia. She is an avid SEC, Dawgs, and college football fan. She also adores her three-year-old black lab, Champ Bailey.